I have been considering soft bags but with so many options I am not sure which are the best for use on the 14. I know some of you must use them. I don't do enough long trips to justify installing hard bags. What do you like and dislike about the ones you have used such as paint protection, capacity, water resistance, durability, stability at speed, ect.

http://www.rka-luggage.com/A14%20Photo%20Gallery/06kaw/ZX14.html

Absolutely top notch, super quality, best in the industry. Have known them since 1990, when they started. Just completed a set for my 08 ZX14, tank bag, seat bag, saddlebags, and since the set I had in 1991 for my ZX-11, they have improved the quality and finish immensely to where the bags are an incredible value.

I spent a month sport touring Europe in 1991, my ZX-11 wearing RKA luggage, and camped the whole trip. The luggage held everything, didn't leak through some of the heaviest driving rain I've ever experienced on a bike, and didn't shift around at all.

The new versions are even better.

Link fixed, I hope. Heh.

* Last updated by: privateer on 3/22/2009 @ 9:05 PM *

I decided to go with the rapid transit platoon tail bag, http://www.rapid-transit.com/rt/products.cfm?products_id=671 haven't used it yet, but it fits nicely on the back seat with minimal contact on painted surfaces. They also have saddlebags as well....

the tail bag has capacity of 70 liters which is more than most, seems to be good quality. I also have the small tank bag, that with the platoon will be plenty for me for a 3-5 day trip.... I know Givi makes some nice soft saddle bags and tail bag combos, I have a friend who has them and sez they are great.... I was also looking at the Cortech sport saddle bags and tail bag, read some good reviews on those... but decided that all I would need wud be the tail bag for now..

I think you get rub from all of the soft stuff that contacts the paint no matter which brand, from the old site some guys were using some homemade techniques likes painters tape underneath, as well as towels, blankets, and that anti slip material....

* Last updated by: Fuzz4141 on 3/22/2009 @ 11:44 PM *

I think you get rub from all of the soft stuff that contacts the paint no matter which brand, from the old site some guys were using some homemade techniques likes painters tape underneath, as well as towels, blankets, and that anti slip material....

Part of why I'm still a fan of RKA after 19 years. On my metallic midnight sapphire 08, the tank bag doesn't even cause swirls in the paint. Nothing. No marring of any kind. And mms shows everything, breath on it wrong and it shows swirls.

Edit : my ZX-14 will appear on the RKA site in the near future in the photo gallery, wearing a tank bag, seat bag, and the large 50 liter saddlebags. I also have the smaller 33 liter bags for short trip needs. Talked to Richard the owner on the phone yesterday and he invited me to send pictures. I asked him about how to make sure the tank bag never scratches anyones bike and he said just make the 3 point attachment straps very tight. Which of course I do anyway, and did years ago when my ZX-11 toured western Europe for a month. Same with the saddle bags, make the forward down and backward (around the rear fender / license plate mount) straps tight. Besides then no marring any paint / finish, it rides solid in the twisties.

I remember riding my ZX-11 through the southern Alps headed to Nice on the south coast of France, dragging my sliders in some of the switchbacks, and not once did any of the full set of RKA shift in the slightest.

* Last updated by: privateer on 3/28/2009 @ 7:03 PM *

I use the Cortech Tri-bag setup with one of their tankbags. Nice stuff.

* Last updated by: AZFZDude on 9/14/2009 @ 9:17 PM *

I can second the vote for the CoreTech bags. I got the blue ones and they looked pretty good on my 2007 in Candy Plasma blue. They took two trips with me, one from Dallas to Phoenix and back, and another to the Smokey Mountains and back. On the Phoenix trip, I was able to get all the clothes I needed for the week, tools, a little extra gas, a hand gun, a tent, a cot, a pillow, a light sleeping bag, a small compressor, some spare levers, a bottle of chain lube, and a few other goodies. That was in the two saddle bags, the tail bag and a small tank bag.

They held up well and seemed to fit the bike pretty nicely. I never tried them with the stock cans, though. I already had my Yoshi 4:1 when I got them.

-Matt

I have read good things about the core tech tank bag but i really dont want to have to strap the bag down, does anyone make a magnetic bag that will work on our damn half plastic tanks? Sorry its kinda off topic but i just bought a really nice a-stars bag and it is too long and will require strapping

thanks

chris

* Last updated by: 09zx14Se on 8/25/2009 @ 6:36 AM *

Chris - I have a Rapid Transit magnetic tank bag that works well but does not have a large amount of space. I place the magnets on the side wings (the magnet tabs look like a manta ray) as far forward as possible and then the tail magnet is on top of the tank. I can actually place the chin of my helmet on the top of the bag when in a speed tuck position and rest my neck. I do not know how much you wanted to carry but this works well for a few items on a day trip.

for those of you that have the cortech soft sport saddlebags...did you mount it under the seat so that you can still use the rear cowl or did you have to mount it on top of the rear seat? i am asking because i really want bags and am considering the corbin beetle bags or the givi's due to the fact that they are the only ones that seem to fit correctly, and still able to keep the rear cowl on.

Thanks

Chris

* Last updated by: 09zx14Se on 8/27/2009 @ 1:00 PM *

I usually pull the cowl. I have the matching duffle bag that clips to the sportbags.
Its a pain to run the cowl and the softbags.
I'd love the beetle bags but customer service is horrid and they are spendy.
Givi is the way I'll go IF i decide the softs gotta go. I've used them on 2 longer trips and no problems over than one of the rain covers seams came apart. (100mph not so good I guess.)
I use the duffle alot to pack stuff to town and back. It has its own bungees for using by itself.

Just a word on soft bags: I used Oxford soft bags on my 06 and the rear cover where the indicator is cracked from the weight of the bags. This was the bags which have a strap under and two over the seat. you remove the seat to strap them on. I bought the hard luggage and it is OK, but causes serious wind drag as they stick out ala BMW. I made a top box bracket for when I ride alone and it is perfect.Use a KAPPA 29L box. Done 300km/h with it and it didn't fly off. Yeah, Skiffman, my rain covers disintegrated too.

* Last updated by: harleyzx1400 on 9/4/2009 @ 5:00 AM *

I pull the cowl when I use my Cortech bags so that I don't crack it. I have about an inch of clearance with the stock pipes. Also the Cortech Super 14 magnetic tankbag works fine with the 14.

This is what I use on the 14. Nothing touches the body work and you can expand (add units)for more capacity if needed. Also great areo wise, the don't stick out into the air stream.

http://www.ventura-bike.com/imagedetail.aspx?model=466

Extrapilot, if you ride two-up and give it gas, isn't it very prone to wheelie? All the weight over the back should make the front very light. A better arrangement than the soft bags I had.

I never ride two up, but I'm sure it would not take to much effort to wheelie this bike with 170+hp on tap.
The system is designed to reverse the bag when riding two up only, but leave in the front position when riding single.

* Last updated by: extrapilot on 9/18/2009 @ 4:56 AM *

http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/extras/motorcycle+luggage/fieldsheer_expander+saddle+bags

I use the Fieldsheer expander saddle bags and the matching top case on my ZX14. I had Givi 36L sides and a 46L top case on my prior bike (Bandit 1200). My thoughts on Hard bags vs. Soft bags: Hard bags are much easier to pack, they're usually watertight (Givi's were top notch high quality). Hard bags show scratches, scuffs, etc,(if that worries one). They obviously weigh more (empty). And lastly, it takes mounting hardware & brackets. With the proper size hard bags, you can usually pack whatver you want, and not worry at all about your contents while in transit. Soft Bags: Very portable, lighter, a bit of a pain to pack (I put groups of items in large ziplock bags, then pack into the soft bag, this makes it easier to remove contents without everything coming out at once), soft bags are notcompletely weather proof, and they're not as securely attached to the bike. They're easier to access while on the road. I don't worry about scratches and scuffs when I throw them in the corner of a tent/room. For my use, which is about two overnight (1-3 nights)trips per year, the soft bags are a better fit.

On to my review of the Fieldsheer bags in the link above: Plenty of room, good construction on the seams/zippers, material is strong and the pockets are easy to access. The straps provided for fastening the bags to the bike are pretty weak. Mine actually broke the first time I went out. I may have over torqued, but believe that you should have a very secure load when taking off for a 4 day trip. I fixed the straps with epoxy glue, which looks tacky (no pun intended) but works great. The plastic connectors are also a bit undersized, but seem to be holding up. I may attempt to upgrade the fasteners. The matching Fieldsheer top case is very nice. I use it everyday for commuting. The bungie straps have not rubbed any scuffs on the rear cowling. However, one of the plastic connectors that allows attachement to the saddle bags did flop around and added a small scuff to my finish; which I was able to remove with scratch remover.

My 2 cents.